Travis County Commissioners Court
April 21, 2009,
Item 1
item 1.
1.
consider and take appropriate action regarding the prohibition of outdoor burning in the unincorporated areas of Travis County.
the old one has expired.
>> good morning, Commissioners.
>> Travis County fire marshal's office and pete baldwin emergency management.
the current burn ban is set to expire tomorrow, I believe.
with the recent rain event, our -- our index has dropped down to a level of 413 from a high of 536 last week.
we are below that critical level.
and to the point that if citizens use caution and good judgment, that outdoor burning could be done safely.
and this issue has also been addressed with the fire chiefs of the area, we would like to recommend that the outdoor burn ban be lifted.
>> we have met with all of our chiefs yesterday and discussed this with them and they were all in agreement that -- that the ban should be lifted.
>> that means no action today.
>> actually, we have an offered for you to sign which -- an order for you to sign that lifts the outdoor burn ban.
even though the current one expires tomorrow, let's go ahead and lift it and sign it and that way it's done.
>>
>> [indiscernible] let me ask you this, though.
how -- how -- will it continued to be monitored I guess and when it gets back to the danger level of where another burn ban has to be invoked, what -- what level, is that 513 or beyond 500 before you come back with the next one?
if the --
>> 500.
>> 500
>> [multiple voices]
>> is the benchmark that is typically been used.
we would like to start considering prohibiting outdoor burning.
it is -- it is a road -- the other thing that needs to be taken into consideration such as -- such as future forecasts, winds and the amount of vegetation and other dead fuels that are available to burn.
but 500 is the point where we normally start wanting on visit with you considering this.
yes, we will at your recommendation continue to monitor that.
>> okay.
could you elaborate just for the public that's listening, a little on the fact that we are still in a drought.
and although we are greening up from the recent rains there's still fuel out there.
the reason that I’m prompted to request this commentary is because I happened to be on 281 going towards san antonio this Saturday in burnet and blanco county, there were numerous fires taking place.
Sunday, coming back, it was misting on Saturday, on Sunday coming back, two of those fires were out of control because of the heavy winds.
so there's risk out there and I wish that -- I would appreciate it if you could elaborate on that a little.
>> let me address a couple of issues like that.
the drought -- the drought contributes to the fire danger, but a drought is separate from -- from fire danger in a way.
drought is a long-term event.
a deficit of rainfall over a period of time and we still are in a drought situation in central Texas here.
even though we have received these beneficial rains.
these rains will help with a green up, help put moisture back in the soil, some of our larger fuels so the fire won't be as intense.
now, once we go out from under an outdoor burning ban, that doesn't mean that it's a free for all.
it means that everyone falls under the state's regulations for outdoor burning, which have rules and regulations about wind speed, these other issues.
so -- so everyone needs to understand just because we say we're lifting it, there's still rules they have to follow for safety.
I agree, I happened to go northwest this weekend.
coming back Sunday on 71, there was water standing in the bar ditches, but smoke piles going all the way from brady and llano all through there.
people were taking advantage of it.
so everyone needs to understand they still have to use caution, they still have to use all of the safety measures involved with it.
and be careful.
do not leave a fire unattended.
has to be out by sundown, can't start before sunup.
winds speeds are --
>> less than 23.
>> less than 23 miles an hour.
if it's over you can't burn.
people need to take responsibility for knowing the rules when we allow burning.
>> thank you.
>> please don't leave it unattended.
in you think that it's out, go out and make sure that it's out.
turn the ground with a shovel and make sure that it's out.
>> leaving fires unattended creates a lot of issues, even for just a few minutes.
also we would like to remind citizens if they choose to use outdoor burning they should notify their local fire department when starting the fire.
>> okay.
very good.
I’ll second Commissioner Davis's motion to lift.
those in favor?
unanimous.
thank you so much.
>> Commissioner, we will put those orders for your signature in the signature pile.
>> thanks so much.
>> do we have the state regulations up on the website.
>> there's a link on our website to the state's outdoor burning rules.
>> thank you so much.
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Last Modified:
Tuesday, April 21, 2009 2:23 PM